Car-axle-box lid



(No Model.)

P. P. BOATMAN.

GAR AXLE BOX LID.

Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

i l *5l UNITED STATES PATENT OEECE.

FRANK P. ISOATMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MORRIS BOX LID COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-AXLE-BOX LID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,801, dated October 4, 1892.

Application iled May 2l, 1892. Serial No. 433,867. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. BOATMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Axle-Box Lids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being,r had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked Jhereon, which form a part of this specificaion.

The sheet-metal lid or cover for car-axle boxes now in use is arranged on a seat inclining downward from the top of the box and is pivoted at one side of the box, so as to be swung or turned edgewise with a sliding movement upward to uncover the box-opening, and when closed rests upon a rib or slioulder at the lower side of said opening.

As the lid, which I prefer to make of steel, is comparatively thin and is subject to more or less Vibration under the motion of the cars against this box ribv or shoulder on which it rests, and as the lid is often opened for the supply of oil to the journal of the axle and closed with more or less force against said boxshoulder, it is from these causes that the lid is caused to cut into this box-shoulder and thereby allowed to assume a position oblique to the opening and consequently uncover its upper corner and expose the oil-chamber to dust and cinders, which would passthrough the crack along the upper edge of the lidinto the box, and in time the box-shoulder would be cut off. My improvement provides aremedy for this cutting action of the steel lid into the box by forming the lower edge of the lid with a turned-up lip or flange, so as to form thereby a comparatively-broad surface bearing the full length of the lid, by which the latter is supported upon the boxshoulder, and thereby prevent any cutting action on the latter and maintain the lid in true position upon its seat.

The accompanying drawings show in Figure 1 the position the steel lid will take in cutting into its supportingshoulderat the lower edge of the box-opening. Fig. 2 shows the steel langedlid in cross-section in its relation to the box-seat and to its supportingshoulder; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lid, one edge of which is formed with the turned-up iiange-bearing; and Fig. 4 shows the lid as having partly out oif the shoulder of the box.

The opening in the axle-box is made with an inclined seat 1, standing downward from the top, and has ribs or shoulders at its lower and upper edges, between which the lid 3 is adapted to fit and be seated to close the opening.

I prefer to make the lid of sheet-steel, and it is pivotally connected at one end to a side projection 4. of the box, so as to be opened and closed by an edgewise-swinging movement over the opening. Its pivot connection may be of any suitable construction that will give to the lid a spring function constantly exerted to press and maintain the lid upon its seat and that will permit it to be raised from its seat and swung or slid open upward over and upon the shoulder at the upper edge of the box-opening.

At its lower edge the lid is upset to form a fiange or rib 5, of a length equal to that of the lid, so as to form a surface bearing upon the lower box-shoulder. I make this bearingiiange at right angles to the lid, so as to form a close joint with the shoulder, and of a height preferably equal to that of the shoulder, so that the lid-liange rests against the latter with a walled surface instead of a cutting-edge- This edge ange, moreover, increases the rigidity of the lid and keeps it in a dat condition for close seating.

As before stated, the pivoting and spring function of the lid may be provided in different ways but I prefer the construction shown, in which the pivoted end of the lid is formed with a spring-tongue 6, bent or doubled, Oso that it overlaps the lida distance sufficient to cause it to form a pivoted part having the function of a spring standing toward the free end of the lid and exerting its force directly upon the lid to hold it firmlyY in its closed position and to hold it in position when opened. The pivoted end of the lid is reduced 1n IOO end to open it and to hold it when open upon the upper shoulder while supplying oil to the journal. The spring part stands longitudinally in central line with the lid,and Iprefer to make it with a swell 11 at the bend, and the spring-pressure exerted upon the lid by the spring part can be adjusted by turning the nut of the bolt. The lid is formed with a suitable handle part, by which it may be opened and closed, and the lid maybe formed with a central raised and corrugated -part l2 to stiffen it, so that although made thin and light its middle and edge upset parts gives it suflicient stiffness to prevent bending, and that it can only yield at its pivot.

It is important to notice that the lid having the bearing-flange at its lower edge rests upon the box-shoulder throughout its length, so that there is no strain Whatever upon the pivot-bolt, and while I prefer to forni the seat for the lid on a downward incline at the upper side of the box I do not wish to be confined to this particular construction, s'o long as the lid is formed with the outward-standing bearing-flange at its lower edge.

I elailn as my improvementl. The combination, with a ear-axle box having its lid-seat standing on a downward incline and formed with a rib or shoulder at the lower side of its opening, of a lid pivoted at the side of the box, formed with a lip or flange standing upward at its lower edge, whereby to form a long surface bearing upon the inner side of said boxfshoulder, for the purpose stated.

2. A car-axle-box lid or cover formed with an outward-upset lip or ange on its lower edge to forni a long surface bearing on the box at the lower edge of its opening and pro- Vision at one end for a pivotal connection, substantially as described.

3. A ear-axle-box lid or cover formed with a lapping spring-tongue at one end having registering holes in the lapped parts and an outwardly-upset flange or lip at its lower edge, for the purpose stated.

4. A car-axle-box lid having a pivot-attaching end having aspring function andan outward-upset bearing lip or fiange along its lower edge, for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK P. BOATM AN.

Witnesses:

OSCAR SronHR, ARTHUR EsPY. 

